A loud, multi-agency drug sweep early Thursday morning — complete with hovering helicopters and banged-in doors — resulted in one arrest locally.
Patrick Farrington, 28, of Oswald Harris Court was arrested and charged with conspiracy to import cocaine and cocaine base, distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine base and money laundering. The arrest warrant was based on an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Savannah, Ga.
Marrissa Torres, 26, a former Virgin Islands resident, was arrested in Orlando, Fla., in connection with the same indictment.
Residents across St. Thomas, from Anna's Retreat to Caret Bay, complained about the noise and confusion created at about 3 a.m. Thursday when helicopters swept over their neighborhoods using bright lights to search the areas, according to the Daily News.
Law enforcement personnel from the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, supported by 10 other agencies, acted without incident on 11 search warrants, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney's office.
The raids, part on an ongoing investigation, netted some physical evidence, according to the release.
The statutory penalty for conspiracy to import cocaine and distribution and possession with intent to distribute cocaine and cocaine bases is a mandatory minimum term of 10 years in prison up to a maximum of life imprisonment and a maximum fine of $4 million. The maximum statutory sentence for money laundering is 20 years and a $500,000 fine.
Farrington remains in custody pending a detention hearing Monday, March 29. No details were provided by the U.S. Attorney's Office on Torres' arrest.
